Marathon cheat who just hopped on a bus

A MARATHON runner proudly displayed his bronze medal...but he had cheated by hopping on a bus.

Rob Sloan was among the front runners at the 20-mile mark, but dropped off the pace []

Rob Sloan was among the front runners at the 20-mile mark, but dropped off the pace after being overcome by exhaustion.

He then jumped on a bus, where he sat resting for the next five miles before hopping off in a wooded area and rejoining the race with just a mile to go.

Sloan, 31, came third in Northumberland’s prestigious Kielder Marathon at the weekend. After the ceremony a fellow passenger contacted organisers and told them runner No 1887 had been riding on a special free bus provided for spectators.

Race officials had already questioned the Sunderland Harriers athlete because marshals had not recorded his passing them in the latter stages. But Sloan protested they must simply have failed to see him as he was going so fast.

He vehemently denied failing to complete the 26.2-mile course even when others, including the bus driver, reported seeing him.

He vehemently denied failing to complete the 26.2-mile course even when others, including the bus driver, reported seeing him

Eventually, having been disqualified, Sloan admitted his guilt. Marathon organisers said: “On Monday night we confirmed that the athlete who was disqualified on Sunday, after initially placing third, has admitted that he failed to complete the whole course.”

Olympic hero Steve Cram, a director of the Kielder Marathon, added: “Mr Sloan made a mistake and has apologised to us for the confusion caused.”

Sloan, a former Army mechanic from Downhill, Sunderland, has only been a member of Sunderland Harriers for the past few months. Yesterday he was in hiding but on Monday, when he was still denying cheating, he said: “I’m upset and angry that someone cast these aspersions.”